PCT
WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
International Bureau
INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
(51) International Patent Classification 6 :
BOIL 11/00, G01N 33/487, BOIL 9/DO
Al
(11) International Publication Number: WO 97/29847
(43) Internationa] Publication Date: 21 August 1997 (21.08.97)
(21) International Application Number: PCT/US97/02166
(22) International Filing Date: 1 1 February 1997 (1 1.02.97)
(30) Priority Data:
08/600,449
1 3 February 1996 (1 3.02.96) US
(71) Applicant: SELFCARE, INC. [US/USJ; 200 Prospect Street,
Waltham, MA 02154 (US).
(72) Inventors: MCALEER, Jerome, F.; 52 Nobles Close, Wantage
OXI2 0NR (GB). MOERMAN, Piet, H., C; Grimbergses-
teenweg 5, B-1980 Zemst (BE). SIU, Ta; 21 Park Street,
Alhambra, CA 91801 (US).
(74) Agents: LARSON, Marina, T. et al.; Oppedahl & Larson, Suite
309, 1992 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598-
4412 (US).
(81) Designated States: AL, AM, AT, AU f AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR,
BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GE,
HU, IL, IS. JP. KE, KG. KP, KR, KZ. LC. LK, LR, LS,
LT, LU t LV, MD, MG. MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ. PL.
PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG f SI. SK, TJ, TM, TR, IT, UA,
UG, UZ, VN, ARIPO patent (KE, LS, MW, SD, SZ, UG),
Eurasian patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG. KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM),
European patent (AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB,
GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI patent (BF, BJ,
CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
Published
With international search report.
Before the expiration of the time limit for amending the
claims and to be republished in the event of the receipt of
amendments.
(54) Title: IMPROVED GLUCOSE MONITOR AND TEST STRIP CONTAINERS FOR USE IN SAME
12
6 1
(57) Abstract
e test meter of the type which receives a disposable test strip and a sample of bodily fluid from a patient and performs an electrochemical
analysis of the amount of an analyte such as glucose in the sample includes a receptacle (7) for receiving a container (10) in which disposable
test strips are provided, and a mechanism for reading information about the disposable test strips mat is affixed to the container. For example,
calibration values can be applied to the container in the form of a machine readable bar-code, a magnetic stripe, a memory chip or as a
resonant wire loop. By automatically obtaining calibration values from the container in which the strips are provided, the chances of using
the wrong calibration information are greatly reduced. The container may also contain information readable by the meter including the
expiration date, and the number of test strips in the container.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
, Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international
applications under the PCT.
AM
Armenia
GB
United Kingdom
AT
Austria
GE
Georgia
AU
Australia
GN
Guinea
BB
Barbados
CR
Greece
BE
Belgium
HU
Hungary
Ii eland
BF
Burkina Paso
IE
BG
Bulgaria
IT
Italy
Bl
Benin
JF
Japan
BR
Brazil
KB
Kenya
BY
Belarus
KG
Kyrgystan
CA
KF
Democratic Peopled
CF
Central African Republic
of Korea
CG
Congo
KR
Republic of Korea
CH
Switzerland
KZ
Kazakhstan
a
Cote dlvofo
U
1 JcdattCttCall
CM
Cameroon
IX
Sri Lanka
CN
China
LR
Liberia
CS
Ciechoatovtkta
LT
CZ
Cxetii Republic
LU
Luxembourg
DC
Germany
LV
Latvia
DK
Denmark
MC
1 Inn . ■ ■
Monaco
EE
Estonia
MD
Republic of Moldova
Madagascar
ES
Spain
MG
n
Finland
ML
Man*
FR
France
MN
Mongolia
CA
Gabon
MR
Mauritania
MW
Malawi
MX
Mexico
NS
Niger
ML
Netherlands
NO
Norway
NZ
New Zealand
PL
Poland
FT
Portugal
RO
RU
Russian Federation
SD
Sudan
SE
Swedes
SG
Singapore
«
Slovenia
SK
Slovakia
SN
Senegal
SZ
Swaziland
TD
Chad
TG
Togo
TJ
Tajikistan
TT
Trinidad and Tobago
UA
Ukraine
UG
Uganda
US
United State* of America
uz
Uzbekistan
VN
Viet Nam
WO 97/29847 PCT/US97/02166
- 1 -
IMPROVED GLUCOSE MONITOR AND TEST STRIP
CONTAINERS FOR USE IN SAME
DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENT TON
This application relates to an improved type of
glucose monitor which is automatically calibrated for the
particular test strips being used, and to test strip
5 containers for use in such a monitor.
Glucose monitoring is a fact of everyday life
for diabetic individuals, and the accuracy of such
monitoring can literally mean the difference between life
and death. To accommodate a normal life style to the
10 need for frequent monitoring of glucose levels, a number
of glucose meters are now available which permit the
individual to test the glucose level in a small amount of
blood. The success of these devices, however, depends on
the ability of the user to obtain a correct reading.
15 Many of the meter designs currently available
make use of a disposable test strip which in combination
with the meter measures the amount of glucose in the
blood sample electrochemically . Lot-to-lot variation
during the manufacture of test strips requires that the
20 user calibrate the system for each batch of strips. This
is normally accomplished by inserting a calibration
strip, provided with each package of test strips, into
the meter. This process introduces the possibility of
error as a result of failure of the user to perform the
25 calibration procedures in the correct manner or at the
correct times. In particular, errors in calibration can
occur if a user opens a new package of test strips and
fails to perform the calibration step or if a, user has
several packages of test strips open and confuses the
30 calibration strips between the packages.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a meter, and particularly a glucose meter, which
obviates the need for user initiated calibration.
W0 97/29S47
PCT/US97/02166
- 2
It is a further object of the invention to
provide a meter, and particularly a glucose meter, which
reduces the likelihood of a test strip being used with
the incorrect meter calibration.
5
SUMMARY OF THE INvwrTfifl
These and other objects of the invention are
provided by a test meter of the type which receives a
disposable test strip and a sample of bodily fluid from a
10 patient and performs an electrochemical analysis of the
amount of an analyte, for example glucose, in the sample
that includes a receptacle for receiving a container in
which disposable test strips are provided, and a mechan-
ism for reading calibration values calibration values
15 specific to the disposable test strips that are affixed
to the container. For example, calibration values can be
applied to the container in the form of a machine
readable bar-code, a magnetic stripe, a memory chip or as
a resonant wire loop. By automatically obtaining
20 calibration values from the container in which the strips
are provided, the chances of using the wrong calibration
information are greatly reduced.
In addition to calibration values, the
container may contain additional information readable by
25 the meter which will enhance the safety of the individual
using the device. For example, the container may include
a machine readable expiration date, which would permit
the meter to either give a warning or to refuse to
process' a test strip which was beyond its expiration
30 date. In addition, the container may include information
about the number of test strips in the container. Since
any effort to process more strips than were originally
supplied in the container would in all likelihood result
in the use of the wrong calibration codes, a warning or
35 refusal to process the strip would be appropriate in this
instance as well.
* WO 97/29847
PCT/US97/02166
BRIEF DES CRI PT ION QF THE DR AW INGS
Fig. 1 shows a cross section of a glucose meter
in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a top view of a glucose meter in
5 accordance with the invention;
Fig. 3 shows one embodiment of a receptacle for
receiving a container of test strips in accordance with
the invention;
Fig. 4 shows one embodiment of a receptacle for
10 receiving a container of test strips in accordance with
the invention;
Fig. 5 shows the functional parts of a meter in
accordance with the invention schematically;
Figs 6A - 6B illustrate the operation of
15 several embodiments of the inventions; and
Fig. 7 shows a container in accordance with the
invention.
DETAILED pgSCRIPTIQN QF THE INVB N T TQN
20 Figs. 1 and 2 shows a meter in accordance with
the invention. The meter has a top housing member 1 and
a bottom housing member 2 . Bottom housing member 2 has a
receptacle 7 affixed thereto for receiving a container 10
of test strips. Bottom housing member 2 also has an
25 opening for receiving batteries to power the meter which
is sealed in use by battery cover 4. Top housing member
1 has openings formed therein for a liquid crystal or
light emitting diode display 3 f and for control buttons
5. In addition, top housing member 1 and bottom housing
30 member: 2 taken together form a slot 12 into which a test
strip is inserted for measurement of glucose.
Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of one embodiment
of a receptacle for a test strip container in accordance
with the present invention. The receptacle 7 is open at
35 the front end 31 to receive a test strip container and
has a retractable catch 32 for holding the container in
position in the receptacle. On one surface of the
WO 97/29847
PCT/US97/02W6
- 4 -
receptacle 7 is an opening 33 through which machine-
readable characters, e.g. a bar code, printed on the
container can be read. Although the receptacle 7 in Pig.
3 is shown as a regular shape, it may be desirable to
make the container and the receptacle of corresponding
asymmetrical shapes to ensure alignment of the machine-
readable characters with the opening.
Fig. 4 shows a cross section of an alternative
embodiment of the receptacle 7, m this embodiment, a
line of electrical contacts 41 are arranged to engage
with a corresponding set of contacts on the container to
that information stored on a chip built into the
container can be made. The contacts 41 are in turn
connected to the meter for processing of the information.
Fig. 5 shows a functional parts of the glucose
meter of the invention schematically for purposes of
understanding the operation of the invention. As shown,
coded information 50 recorded on a test strip container
10 disposed within receptacle 7 is functionally connected
to means 51 for reading the information affixed to the
container. The means for reading the information must, of
course, be compatible with the manner in which the
information 50 is recorded on the container. Thus, for
example, in the case of information recorded in a bar-
code format, the means 51 for reading the information
affixed to the container will be a bar-code reader. For
a magnetic strip, the means 51 will be a magnetic stripe
reader. In the case where the information on the
container is recorded in a memory chip, for example a
"TOUCH MEMORY" chip manufactured by Dallas Semiconductor
or other semiconductor device capable of storing
information for retrieval by a remote device, the means
51 for reading the information is a microprocessor which
sends a query to the chip and receives back a signal
reflecting the stored contents of the chip, in the case
where the information is stored as a resonating wire
loop, the resonating frequency of which indicates the
WO 97/29847
PCT/US97/02166
- 5 -
information, the means 51 for reading the information is
an rf generator and detector which scans across possible
resonance frequencies and monitors for a resonant
emission from the wire loop.
5 The means 51 for reading the information is
functionally connected to a microprocessor 52 for con-
trolling the device. When the user depresses the start
key 5, the microprocessor 52 queries the means 51 for
reading the information from the container and either
10 evaluates the sample which has placed in the slot 12,
evaluates the sample with a warning to the user, or
refuses to evaluate the sample. If the sample is evalu-
ated, with or without a warning, the microprocessor
receives output from the electrodes 53 on the test strip,
15 applies the calibration factors received from the means
51 for reading the information from the container, and
causes the resulting glucose level to be displayed on
display 3 .
Pigs. 6 A - E illustrate several variations of
20 information 50 which can be recorded on a container in
accordance with the present invention, and the ways in
which the microprocessor 52 can make use of the recorded
information. In Fig. 6A, the information 50 recorded on
the container is simply the calibration values for the
25 test strips in the container. In this case, the
microprocessor 52 simply applies the calibration values
to the raw electrode output arid converts it to a digital
value, to arrive at a calibrated glucose display.
In Fig. 6B, the information 50 recorded on the
30 container includes both the calibration values and the
number of test strips originally in the container.
Microprocessor 52 maintains a register 60 in which a
counter X is stored. The counter X is set to zero
whenever a new container is loaded into the receptacle 7,
35 and is incremented each time a test strip is evaluated.
Each time the meter is used, the microprocessor 52
compares the value of X stored in register 60 to the
WO 97/29847
PCT/US97/02166
- 6
number of test strips originally in the container. If the
X is less than or equal to the original number of test
strips, the microprocessor operates in a normal manner
and a calibrated glucose value is displayed. If x is
greater than the original number of strips, the
microprocessor generates an error signal. This error
signal may cause the meter to provide a result together
with a warning that the result is suspect, or may cause
the microprocessor to refuse to display a result at all.
Fig. 6C shows an embodiment in which the
information 50 recorded on the container includes cali-
bration values and an expiration or manufacturing date.
In this case, the microprocessor 52 includes a clock 61
which is set initially by the user or by the factory and
which is incremented automatically by the microprocessor
to maintain the date accurately. The microprocessor 52
compares the expiration date recorded on the container to
the clock, and acts in one of three ways depending on the
results of this comparison. As shown, when the actual
date is before the expiration date by some pre -determined
threshold amount, for example 10 days, the microprocessor
52 simply generates a calibrated glucose display. When
the actual date is closer to the expiration date than the
predetermined threshold, and perhaps for several days
after the expiration date, the microprocessor 52
generates a low level error signal which causes the meter
to display a calibrated glucose reading along with a
warning. Thereafter, the microprocessor generates a high
level error signal which results in the meter refusing to
provide a reading.
A variation on the embodiment shown in Fig. 6C
would use the clock to also monitor the time since the
container was placed in the receptacle, in this case, as
shown in Pig. 6D, the microprocessor would also include a
storage register 64 in which the date on which a new
container is placed in the receptacle is stored, in
addition to checking the expiration date, the
WO 97/29847
PCT/US97/02166
microprocessor 52 would also compare the current date to
the date stored in register 62 . If this difference were
greater than a predetermined threshold level, the meter
would generate a warning and/or refuse to operate. This
5 embodiment is particularly useful where the shelf life of
the test strips in the sealed container is longer than
the shelf life after the container has been opened for
first use. In addition, by generating a warning when a
container of strips is lasting longer than expected, the
10 meter could provide a reminder that tests need to be
performed on a regular basis;
Fig. 6E shows a further embodiment of the
invention in which the information 50 stored on the con-
tainer includes both calibration values and the identifi-
15 cation of the analyte for which the strip is intended.
This embodiment is particularly useful where disposable
test strips for several analytes, for example glucose and
ketones can be evaluated in the same meter but require
different processing of the raw data to obtain optimum
20 results.
The various types of information and the
resulting processing options depicted in the Figs 6A-6E
can be used in any combination. Thus, for example, a
container in accordance with the invention might include
25 calibration values, analyte ID and expiration date;
calibration values, number of strips and expiration date;
number of strips and expiration date; or any other
combination of information types.
While the checks described above will greatly
30 reduce the chances of using incorrect calibration values
or out-of-date test strips, it may also be advantageous
to provide the ability to deactivate the information
stored on the container so that it cannot be used beyond
a certain point. For example, deactivation of the
35 container after a number of tests had been run equal to
the number of strips into the container would eliminate
the possibility that an individual might place additional
WO 97/29847
PCT/US97/02166
- 8 -
test strips which did not match the calibration values of
the container.
The mechanism of deactivation, like the
mechanism for reading the information depends on the
manner in which the information is stored. For example,
in the case of a bar-code, the information might be
rendered unreadable by exposing a photosensitive region
to light which causes a color change for example to alter
the bar code to an unreadable pattern. For an emitter
loop, a fusible link can be included which is fused by a
pulse of an appropriate frequency, render the shorting
the emitter loop and rendering it inoperative. In the
case of a programmable memory chip, deactivation might be
accomplished by writing over a portion of the stored
information, or by inducing a magnetic field near the
chip of sufficient magnitude to render the stored
information meaningless, and therefore unreadable. The
generation of a magnetic field will also render a
magnetic stripe inoperative.
A further aspect of the present invention is
the containers which can be used in the meter according
to the invention . As shown in Fig. 7, such a container
generally comprises a sealable body member 70 for
receiving at least one glucose test strip; and machine-
readable means 71 for storing information specific to
disposable test strips provided in the container. As
will be apparent from the foregoing discussion of the
alternative reading means which can be included in a
meter according to the invention, the machine readable
means 71 can be a bar- code, a memory chip, or a resonant
wire loop, or any other form of machine readable storage
which can be adapted for use in a small device of the
type claimed.
WO 97/29847
PCT/US97/02166
- 9 -
Claims
1 1. A test meter of the type which receives a
2 disposable test strip and a sample of bodily fluid from a
3 patient and performs an electrochemical analysis of the
4 amount of an analyte in the sample, characterized in that
5 the meter comprises
6 (a) a receptacle for receiving a container in
7 which disposable test strips are provided, said container
8 having affixed thereto information specific to the
9 disposable test strips provided in the container in a
10 form readable by the test meter;
11 (b) means for reading the information affixed
12 to the container.
1 2. The test meter according to claim 1,
2 wherein the means for reading the information comprises a
3 bar-code reader.
1 3. The test meter according to claim 1,
2 wherein the means for reading the information comprises a
3 radio frequency emitter and receiver effective to
4 evaluate a resonant wire loop used to store information
5 specific to the test strips in the container.
1 4. The test meter according to claim 1,
2 wherein the means for reading the information comprises a
3 microprocessor for retrieving information from a memory
4 chip used to store information specific to the test
5 strips in the container.
1 5 . The meter according to any of claims 1 to
2 4, wherein the information specific to the disposable
3 test strip includes calibration values for the disposable
4 test strips, and wherein the meter further comprises
5 means for applying the calibration values to a raw data
WO 97/29847
PCTAJS97/02166
- 10 -
6 value to produce a calibrated value for the amount of
7 analyte.
1 6. The meter according to claim 5, further
2 comprising means for displaying the calibrated value for
3 the amount of analyte.
7. The meter according to any of claims l to
6, wherein the information specific to the disposable
test strip includes the number of test strips originally
provided in the container, and the meter further
5 comprisee a data storage register for storing a value
6 equal to the number of test strips used from the
7 container and means for generating an error signal
8 whenever the value stored in the data storage register
9 exceed the number of test strips originally provided in
10 the container.
1 8. The meter according to any of claims 1 to
2 7, wherein the information specific to the disposable
3 test strip includes the expiration date of test strips
4 provided in the container, and the meter further
5 comprises a data storage register for storing the current
6 date and means for generating an error signal whenever
7 the value stored in the data storage register is later
8 than the expiration date of the test strips provided in
9 the container.
2
8
9, The meter according to claim 8, wherein
the means for generating an error signal generates a low
level error signal which causes the meter to display a
calibrated result and a warning when the date stored in
the data register is within some predetermined number of
days before or after the expiration date, and a high
level error signal which causes the meter to refuse to
display a calibrated result when the date stored in the
WO 97/29847
PCIYUS97/02166
- 11 -
9 data register is more than the predetermined number of
10 days after the expiration date.
1 10. The meter according to any of claims 1 to
2 9, further comprising means for rendering the information
3 affixed to the container unreadable when a predetermined
4 set of conditions is met.
1 11. The meter according to any of claims 1 to
2 10 r wherein the analyte is glucose.
1 12. A container for disposable test strips for
2 use in a test meter of the type which receives a
3 disposable test strip and a sample of bodily fluid from a
4 patient and performs an electrochemical analysis of the
5 amount of an analyte in the sample, comprising
6 (a) a sealable body member for receiving at
7 least one test strip; and
8 (b) machine -readable means for storing
9 information specific to disposable test strips provided
10 in the container.
1 13. The container according to claim 12,
2 wherein the machine -readable means is a bar-code.
1 14 . The container according to claim 12 ,
2 wherein the machine -readable means is a memory chip.
1 15. The container according to claim 12,
2 wherein the machine -readable means is a resonant wire
3 loop.
1 16. The container according to claim 12,
2 wherein the machine -readable means is a magnetic stripe.
1 17. The container according to any of claim 12
2 to 16, further comprising means for rendering the
WO 97/29847
PCT/US97/02I66
- 12 -
3 machine-readable means unreadable in response to an
4 externally applied signal.
1 18. The container according to any of claims
2 12 to 17, wherein the information specific to the test
3 strips includes calibration values for the test strips.
1 19. The container according to any of claims
2 12 to 18, wherein the information specific to the test
3 strips includes the number of test strips originally
4 provided in the container.
1 20. The container according to any of claims
2 12 to 19, wherein the information specific to the test
strips includes the expiration date of the test strips
4 provided in the container.
3
WO 97/29847
PCT/US97/02166
FIG. 2
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 97/79847
PCT/US97/0216*
2/6
FIG. 4
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 97/29847
PCT/US97/02166
3/6
5
/
7
CALIBRATION
VALUES
50
i
53
FIG. 5
52
CALIBRATED
OUTPUT
RAW DATA
53
FIG 6A
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 97/29847
PCT/TJS97/02166
4/6
CALIBRATION
VALUES
NO. OF STRIPS
CALIBRATED
OUTPUT
IF X < NO.
OF STRIPS
IFX>NO.
OF STRIPS
RAW
DATA
ERROR
SIGNAL
53
FIG. 6B
CALIBRATION
VALUES
EXPIRATION
DATE
CALIBRATED
OUTPUT
IF DATE <EXR
DATE -10
IF EXP. DATE
-9<DATE<
EXP. DATE +9
IF DATE > EXP.
DATE +10
LOW
LEVEL
ERROR
SIGNAL
HIGH
LEVEL
ERROR
SIGNAL
FIG. 6C
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RIM 26)
WO 97/29847
PCT/US97/02166
5/6
CALIBRATION
VALUES
EXPIRATION
DATE
52
CALIBRATED
OUTPUT
IF DATE < EXP
DATE -10 AND
61< 64 + THRESHOLD
IF EXP DATE -9 < DATE <
EXP DATE +9 OR
61 > 64 + L0W
THRESHOLD LEVEL
" *" ERROR
SIGNAL
RAW
DATA
53
IF DATE > EXP.
DATE +10
HIGH
LEVEL
ERROR
SIGNAL
FIG. 6D
CALIBRATION
VALUES
ANALYTE
52
CALIBRATED
OUTPUT FOR
CORRECT
ANALYTE
RAW
DATA
FIG. 6E
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 97/29847
PCTAUS97/02166
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
hnu-.^l Application No
PCT/US 97/92166
A. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER
PC 6 B91L11/O0 601M33/487 B01L9/G9
According to jntematijanaj Paten! Classification (IPC) or to both national cUafiatbon and IPC
B. FIELDS SEARCHED
Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols)
IPC 6 BOIL
Documentation searched other than nummura documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched
Electronic data base consulted during (he international search (name of data base and, where practical, search terms used)
C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
Category * Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages
Relevant to claim No.
US 5 489 414 A (SCHREIBER JOERG ET AL) 6
February 1996
see column 2, line 15 - line 26
see column 4, line 58 - line 60
see column 4, line 65 - column 5, line 12
US 5 277 870 A (FULLER) 11 January 1994
see column 1, line 29 - line 33
see column 1, line 49 - line 53
see column 1, line 63 - column 2, line 23
US 4 303 887 A (HILL JEREMY R ET AL) 1
December 1981
see page 1, line 58 - page 2, line 20
see column 12 f line 25 - line 28; figure 1
-/--
1-4
m
Further t
i are listed in the
of box C.
|X j Patent family members are listed in a
* Special categories of cited d oc um e nts :
* A* document defining the general state of the ait which is not
considered to be of particular relevance
*E* earlier document but published on or after the mtcrnahonal
filing date
*L* tit cumcnt which may throw doubts on priority daimfx) or
which is cited to e s ta blish the publication date of another
citation or other special reason (as specified)
'O* document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or
other means
*P* document published prior to the tote manorial filing dale but
later than the priority date cla i m e d
T later document published after the international filing date
or priority date and not in conflict with the application but
cited to understand the principle or theory underlying me
-X* document of particular relevance; the daimed invention
cannot be cui uidcr cd novd or cannot be considered to
involve an inventive step when the document is taken alone
*Y* document of particular relevance; the daimed invention
cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the
document is combined with one or more other such docu-
ments, such coci^naticm bocg obvious to a pem*i dolled
in the art.
'A* document member of the same patent family
Date of the actual cotnptcnon of the international search
19 June 1997
Date of mailing of the
international search report
Name and mailing address of the ISA
European Patent Office, P.B. SSI 8 Patcntiaan 2
NL - 22SO HV Rijswijt
Tct ( + 31-70) 340.2040, Tx. 31 651 epo m.
Fax (-> 31-70) 340-3016
Hocquet, A
Food PCT/OA/BO (m
I i* act} (July IW)
page 1 of 2
INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
Intern* — .•*) Application No
PCT/US 97/02166
^Continuation) DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
Category ' Citation of document, wift indication, where appropriate, of the relevant praps
EP 0 649 393 A (BQEHRINGER MANNHEIM GMBH)
I March 1995
see column 4, line 23 - line 31
US 4 852 025 A (HERPICHBOEHM BERND) 25
July 1989
see coluim 2, line 7 - line 47
see column 3, line 50 - line 60
see column 12, line 25 - line 32; figure 6
WO 94 10558 A (EN VI ROM ED PLC ; FRIED LANDER
URI (GB); HIGGINS IRVING JOHN (GB); COS)
II May 1994
see page 1, line 1 - line 6
see page 2, paragraph 4
see page 4, paragraph 2 - paragraph 3
see page 6
CH 677 149 A (DISETRONIC AG) 15 April 1991
see column 2, line 25 - coluim 3, line 58
see column 4, line 15 - line 19
see column 4, line 49 - line 53
EP 0 567 067 A (FUJI PHOTO FILM CO LTD) 27
October 1993
see column 1, line 1 - line 13
see coluim 2, line 15 - line 20
see column 9, line 1 - line 40
see column 14, line 41 - line 52
see column 22, line 8 - line 17
Relevant to claim No.
1-5
12
1,5
8-10,17,
20
1.12
12-16,
18,20
Term PCT/tSA/2IB (cmriJmiatiOA of fax* (JWy 1993)
page 2 of 2
INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
Information on patent family members
I»tenu.-.aa1 Application No
PCT/US 97/D2166
Patent document
cited in search report
Publication
date
Publication
member (s)
1 due
DE
4313252 A
27-10-94
DE
4328816 A
02-03-95
EP
0622119 A
02-11-94
EP
0622626 A
02-11-94
OP
6308115 A
04-11-94
JP
6313765 A
08-11-94
US 5489414 A
06-02-96
US 5277870 A 11-01-94 US 5174963 A 29-12-92
US 4303887 A 01-12-81
CA
1153580 A
13-09-83
CA
1152772 A
30-08-83
DE
3040233 A
17-09-81
FR
2468945 A
08-05-81
FR
2476350 A
21-08-81
GB
2069702 A,B
26-08-81
G6
2077927 A,B
23-12-81
OP 56079242 A
29-06-81
EP 0640393 A 01-03-95 DE 4328815 A 02-03-95
OP 7069360 A 14-03-95
US 5505308 A 09-04-96
US 4852025 A 25-07-89 DE 3617161 A 26-11-87
EP 0247439 A 02-12-87
HK 46393 A 21-65-93
OP 1808984 C 10-12-93
OP 5016745 B 05-03-93
OP 62285040 A 10-12-87
WO 9410558
A
11-05-94
AU 5374594 A
EP 0667956 A
24-05-94
23-08-95
CH 677149
A
15-04-91
WO 9100998 A
DE 59005357 D
EP 0436679 A
24-01-91
19-05-94
17-07-91
EP 0567067
A
27-10-93
OP 6213903 A
US 5538688 A
05-08-94
23-07-96
Ftavm PCT.1SA.aiO (p«af* family man) (to* WJ)
THIS PAGE BLANK (uspto)